Power Calculators

⚡ EV vs Petrol Car Cost Calculator

EVs cost more to buy but much less to run. Find out when the EV pays back — and how much you save.

By the Power Calculators team Updated

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Home charging ₹7–9; public fast chargers ₹18–25.

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Formula at a glance

EV vs Petrol Calculator: Running cost per km — Fuel price ÷ mileage + maintenance per km. Example: 1,200 km a month for 8 years → Over 8 years: The EV is cheaper by ₹3,50,645 (3.51 lakh)
How the EV vs Petrol Calculator works: Running cost per km — Fuel price ÷ mileage + maintenance per km

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📘 About the EV vs Petrol Car Cost Calculator

An electric car charged at home for ₹8 a unit and giving 7 km per unit costs about ₹1.1 a km in electricity, against about ₹7 a km in petrol for a car giving 15 km a litre at ₹105. EVs also need less servicing. The catch is a higher purchase price.

Enter the prices, your driving and running costs. The calculator adds up the total cost of each car year by year, shows the running cost per km and monthly saving, and the year the EV becomes cheaper overall.

🧮 Formula

Running cost per km
Fuel price ÷ mileage + maintenance per km
Total cost
Car price + Σ (km × running cost + insurance) each year

✏️ Worked examples

1,200 km a month for 8 years

You enter
Currency₹ Indian rupee
Km driven a month1,200 km
Years you will keep the car8 years
Petrol car on-road price900000
EV on-road price1300000
Petrol price105 per litre
Petrol car mileage15 km per litre
Charging cost8 per unit (kWh)
EV efficiency7 km per unit
Petrol car maintenance1.5 per km
EV maintenance0.8 per km
Petrol car insurance a year30000
EV insurance a year40000
Fuel & power price rise a year3%
You get
Over 8 yearsThe EV is cheaper by ₹3,50,645 (3.51 lakh)
Running cost per kmPetrol ₹8.50 · EV ₹1.94
Monthly running saving with the EV₹7,869
Extra price of the EV paid back inyear 5
CO₂ a yearPetrol 2,218 kg · EV 1,481 kg (Indian grid)

The EV is cheaper by ₹3,50,645 (3.51 lakh).

Only 500 km a month

You enter
Currency₹ Indian rupee
Km driven a month500 km
Years you will keep the car8 years
Petrol car on-road price900000
EV on-road price1300000
Petrol price105 per litre
Petrol car mileage15 km per litre
Charging cost8 per unit (kWh)
EV efficiency7 km per unit
Petrol car maintenance1.5 per km
EV maintenance0.8 per km
Petrol car insurance a year30000
EV insurance a year40000
Fuel & power price rise a year3%
You get
Over 8 yearsPetrol is cheaper by ₹1,33,898 (1.34 lakh)
Running cost per kmPetrol ₹8.50 · EV ₹1.94
Monthly running saving with the EV₹3,279
Extra price of the EV paid back innot within 8 years
CO₂ a yearPetrol 924 kg · EV 617 kg (Indian grid)

Petrol is cheaper by ₹1,33,898 (1.34 lakh).

🧭 How to use this calculator

What you enter

  • Currency
  • Km driven a month (km)
  • Years you will keep the car (years)
  • Petrol car on-road price
  • EV on-road price
  • Petrol price (per litre)
  • Petrol car mileage (km per litre)
  • Charging cost (per unit (kWh))Home charging ₹7–9; public fast chargers ₹18–25.
  • EV efficiency (km per unit)
  • Petrol car maintenance (per km)
  • EV maintenance (per km)
  • Petrol car insurance a year
  • EV insurance a year
  • Fuel & power price rise a year (%)

What you get

  • Over 8 years
  • Running cost per km
  • Monthly running saving with the EV
  • Extra price of the EV paid back in
  • CO₂ a year

💡 Also check

  • State road-tax and registration waivers for EVs.
  • Whether you can install a home charger where you park.
  • Real-world range in summer with the AC on.
  • Resale values of the models you are comparing.

❓ Frequently asked questions

Is an EV cheaper than a petrol car in India?

Over 5–8 years, yes for most people who drive 1,000+ km a month and charge at home. For low mileage the higher price may not pay back.

How much does it cost to charge an EV at home?

A 30 kWh battery costs about ₹240 to fill at ₹8 a unit, enough for 200–250 km of city driving.

What about battery replacement?

Most EV batteries carry an 8-year or 1.6 lakh km warranty in India and usually last longer; resale value is still uncertain.

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